Pack of rigid type for tobacco products and a relative method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A rigid pack of substantially parallelepiped appearance for tobacco products appears as a container ( 5 ) with an open top end ( 6 ), surmounted by a lid ( 7 ) hinged to the container ( 5 ) and rotatable between positions in which the top end ( 6 ) is open and closed. The pack ( 1 ) presents four lateral faces ( 17, 18, 19 ), and two end faces ( 12, 16 ) disposed mutually parallel and perpendicular to the lateral faces ( 17, 18, 19 ); at least one of the six faces ( 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 ) presents a raised portion ( 22 ) with an outwardly directed convex profile obtained by plastically deforming at least one panel ( 43, 44 ) of a blank ( 31 ) before the blank is folded around the tobacco products to fashion the pack ( 1 ).

This application is the National Phase of International ApplicationPCT/IB02/04135filed Oct. 8, 2002 which designated the U.S. and thatInternational Application was published under PCT Article 21(2) inEnglish.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a pack of rigid type for tobaccoproducts.

The term “pack” used throughout the following specification can be takento mean either a packet of cigarettes, or a carton containing aplurality of packets of cigarettes.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, where packets of cigarettes are concerned, cigarettesemerging from a cigarette maker are ordered into groups each making upthe contents of one packet. The single group is enveloped first in asheet of metal foil paper constituting an inner wrapper, in such amanner as to create a block of substantially parallelipiped geometry.

Each block is then enveloped by a diecut blank, bent along previouslyformed crease lines and folded thus around the block to fashion an outerwrapper appearing as a rigid packet with a hinged lid that presents theshape of a rectangular parallelepiped with a front face, a rear face andtwo end faces, top and bottom.

Such rigid packets are normally of the type comprising a body of cuppedappearance surmounted by a lid likewise of cupped appearance, which ishinged to a top edge of the body and rotatable thus between an openposition, and a position in which the cupped body is closed.

The cigarettes internally of each packet are ordered side by side inrows, typically in three rows each comprising a number of cigarettesthat will vary according to the size of the selfsame cigarettes and ofthe packet.

Packets of the type in question betray certain drawbacks, the mostnoticeable of which stems from the particular shape of the packet andfrom the method of manufacture outlined above. In effect, the blocks ofcigarettes are bound tightly by the outer wrapper along their fulllength, with the result that the single cigarettes are difficult toextract when the packet is opened. This drawback relates in particularto the cigarettes of the row in tight contact with the front insidesurface of the packet, as these are the first to be removed by thesmoker.

Another drawback liable to affect these packets is attributable to thefact that the method of assembly can also occasion a damaging axialcompression of the cigarettes between the two end faces.

In the case of cartons, single packets turned out by a packer areordered into groups of substantially parallelepiped shape, whereuponeach group is taken up by a cartoner and enveloped in a diecut blankbent along previously formed crease lines in such a way as to obtain awrapper consisting in a rigid carton, for example of the type with ahinged lid, presenting the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with afront face, a rear face and two end faces, top and bottom.

Likewise in this instance, cartons produced by the machines currently inuse are compacted in the extreme, with the blank wrapped tightly aroundthe respective group of packets, so that the first few packets aredifficult to extract when the carton is opened.

The object of the present invention is to provide a pack of rigid typefor tobacco products, embodied in such a way as to overcome thedrawbacks described above.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The stated object is realized according to the present invention in apack of rigid type for tobacco products, presenting lateral faces andend faces and comprising a wrapper composed of a container with an opentop end, and a lid by which the open top end is closed, characterized inthat at least one face of the pack presents at least one raised portionwith an outwardly directed convex profile.

The present invention relates also to a method of manufacturing packs ofrigid type for tobacco products.

The stated object is realized according to the invention in a method bywhich to manufacture packs of rigid type for tobacco products, departingfrom a flat diecut blank presenting a plurality of longitudinal creaselines and a plurality of transverse crease lines combining with thelongitudinal crease lines to define a plurality of panels coincidingsingly or in overlapping association with the faces of the pack,characterized in that it comprises the steps of advancing the blanksalong a predetermined conveying line through a forming station, anddeforming at least one of the panels plastically at the forming stationin such a way as to generate a raised portion.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, withthe aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 10 illustrate several embodiments of a pack embodied inaccordance with the present invention, in particular a packet ofcigarettes, viewed schematically and in perspective;

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an embodiment of a pack embodied inaccordance with the present invention, in particular a carton containinga plurality of packets of cigarettes, viewed schematically and inperspective in two configurations, closed and open respectively;

FIG. 13 illustrates a line for the manufacture of packs embodied inaccordance with the present invention, viewed schematically inperspective and represented by blocks, equipped with a forming deviceaccording to the invention;

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 illustrate three different embodiments of theforming device shown in FIG. 9, viewed schematically in perspective andwith certain parts omitted.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 of the drawings, 1 denotes a rigid packfor tobacco products, in its entirety, which in the example of FIGS. 1to 10 consists in a rigid packet 2 serving to contain a group ofcigarettes (not illustrated), whereas in FIGS. 11 and 12 the packconsists in a carton 3 containing a plurality of packets 2. The pack 1appears substantially parallelepiped in shape with longitudinal corneredges denoted 58, and comprises an outer wrapper 4 in its turncomprising a cupped container 5 with an open top end 6; the container issurmounted by a lid 7 also of cupped embodiment, hinged to the container5 along a crease line 8 and rotatable thus between a position in whichthe top end 6 is exposed (illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8) and a positionin which the selfsame top end 6 is concealed.

The container 5 presents a front 9, a back 10, two flanks 11, and abottom 12; the lid 7 similarly presents a front 13, a back 14, twoflanks 15, and a top 16.

The front, back and flanks of the container 5 and of the lid 7 combinerespectively to form four lateral faces of the single pack 1, of whichthe front face is denoted 17, the rear face is denoted 18 and the flankfaces are denoted 19, these same four faces combining with the bottom 12of the container 5 and the top 16 of the lid 7 to establish the outerwrapper 4 of the pack 1.

As illustrated particularly in FIG. 6, the single packet 2 accommodatesan inner wrapper 20 enveloping the aforementioned group of cigarettesand is furnished with a reinforcing frame 21 interposed between theouter wrapper 4 and the inner wrapper 20, anchored to the container 5and projecting in part from the open top end 6 of the selfsame container5 to provide a stabilizing element for the lid 7 when in the closedposition.

In the examples of FIGS. 1 to 6, and 11 and 12, at least one of the sixfaces 12, 16, 17, 18 and 19 (both flank faces being denoted 19) of thepack 1 presents a raised portion 22 with an outwardly directed convexprofile.

The raised portion 22 is circumscribed by an outline 23 and occupies asubstantially central area of at least one face 12, 16, 17, 18 and 19presented by the pack 1, excluding the parts adjacent to the edges ofthe face 12, 16, 17, 18 and 19.

In other embodiments not illustrated in the drawings but readilyconceivable by a person skilled in the art, the raised portion 22 couldextend at least in part to meet the edge of the occupied face.Moreover,the raised portion 22 could be fashioned in such a way as topresent a substantially flat central portion 56 and a surrounding fillet57 by which the central portion 56 and the corresponding face of thepack 1 are interconnected.

It will be seen that the raised portions, when located in particular onthe front and rear faces 17 and 18 of the pack 1, have the effect ofrelieving the pressure exerted by the outer wrapper 4 on the innerwrapper 20, making it easier to draw out the cigarettes when the packet2 is opened. It will be seen in any event that the consequent reductionin tightness does not affect the stable positioning of the cigarettesinside the packet 2, since the outer wrapper 4 remains in close contactwith the inner wrapper 20 at the longitudinal ends of the selfsamewrapper 20 lying outside the compass of the raised portion 22.

In the examples of FIGS. 5 and 6, the raised portions 22 appear not onlyon the front and rear faces 17 and 18 but also on the two flank faces19, the bottom end face 12 and the top end face 16. In this instance thepacket 2 is more easily handled, and in particular, the effect ofgenerating raised portions 22 on the bottom and top end faces 12 and 16is to cushion the ends of the cigarettes.

In the examples of FIGS. 11 and 12, the raised portion 22 is located onthe front face 17 of the carton 3, and in consequence the packets 2 aremore easily extracted from the carton 3, for the same reasons asindicated previously in referring to the cigarettes of the single packet3.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the longitudinal corner edges 58 of thepackets 2 might appear as sharp corner edges 24 (FIG. 1), or roundedcorner edges 25 (FIG. 3), or bevelled corner edges 26 (FIG. 2), oralternatively, as in the example of FIG. 4, with a band 27 of curvedsection extending along each of the corner edges 58 and disposed withthe concave face directed inwards, by which a central part 28 of therelative front face 17 or rear face 18 is joined to the adjacent flankface 19 along a sharp corner edge 29.

Further embodiments of the pack 1 are illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10. Moreexactly, FIGS. 7 and 8 each show a top end face 16 presenting a raisedportion 22 that consists in a substantially flat central portion 56joined to the peripheral edges of the selfsame face 16 by way of afillet 57 consisting in rectilinear segments connected one to the nextby way of sharp corners. In FIG. 9 the top end face 16 presents a raisedportion 22 consisting in a substantially flat central portion 56 joinedto the peripheral edges of the selfsame face 16 by way of a fillet 57consisting in rectilinear segments interconnected by curved segments. InFIG. 10, finally, the top end face 16 presents a raised portion 22consisting in a substantially flat central portion 56 joined to theperipheral edges of the selfsame face 16 by way of a fillet 57consisting in rectilinear segments interconnected by way of curvedsegments and sharp corners.

The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 and FIGS. 7 to 10 aresimilarly applicable in the case of a carton 3.

FIG. 13 illustrates a conveying line 30, and advancing along the line, asuccession of flat diecut cardboard blanks 31 from which the packs 1 arefashioned.

The line 30 passes through a forming station indicated in FIG. 13 by ablock denoted 32, and extends thereafter toward a wrapping unit 33. Theforming station 32 may or may not constitute an integral part of apackaging machine, indicated in the interests of simplicity by a block34 drawn in phantom lines.

As discernible in FIGS. 13 to 16, the single flat diecut blank 31 is ofessentially rectangular outline and presents two longitudinal creaselines 35, also a plurality of transverse crease lines 36 . . . 41 thatcombine with the two longitudinal crease lines 35 to define a pluralityof panels 43 and 44 coinciding either singly, in the case of the panelsdenoted 43, or in overlapping association, as in the case of the panelsdenoted 44, with the six faces 12, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the pack 1.

On arrival at the forming station 32, at least one of the panels 43and/or 44 presented by each blank 31 is deformed plastically in such away as to generate the raised portion 22.

Observing FIGS. 14 and 15, it will be seen that the blanks 31 areadvanced continuously along the line 30 and the plastic deformation isbrought about by a pair of rollers 45 contrarotating about axes 46transverse to the line 30 and operating in concert. The rollers 45 arelocated on opposite sides of the line 30 and at least one, the toproller as viewed in FIGS. 10 and 11, presents a cylindrical surface 47with at least one projection 48 functioning as a die such as willproduce the raised portion 22 on the respective panel 43 and/or 44 ofthe blank 31.

In the example of FIG. 14 the cylindrical reaction surface 47 of thesecond roller 45, the bottom roller as viewed in FIGS. 14 and 15, isembodied in a resilient material so as to yield on contact with theprojection 48 of the top roller 45 and thus allow the raised portion 22to be impressed on the blank 31.

In the example of FIG. 15, the cylindrical surface 47 of the second orbottom roller 45 affords at least one recess 49 functioning as a bottomdie matched to the projection 48 of the top roller 45 and allowing theraised portion 22 to be impressed on each blank 31.

In the example of FIG. 16, the single blanks 31 are brought momentarilyto a standstill at the forming station 32 and in this instance deformedplastically by a pair of tools 50 consisting in a punch 51 and a counter52 operating in concert and invested with reciprocating motion in adirection 53 transverse to the conveying line 30. The tools 50 arelocated on opposite sides of the line 30 and at least one, the punch 51in the example of FIG. 16, presents a projection 54 functioning as a diedesigned to interact with a recess 55 afforded by the counter 52 inproducing the raised portion 22 on each blank 31.

In a further embodiment not illustrated in the drawings, the second tool50, that is to say the counter 52, can be fashioned from a resilientmaterial such as will yield on contact with the projection 54 of thepunch 51 and thus allow the raised portion 22 to be impressed on eachblank 31.

In the example of 6, the frame 21 presents a breast piece fixed to thefront 9 of the container 5 and two side pieces fixed to thecorresponding flanks 11 of the container 5. In an alternative embodimentof the pack 1 of FIG. 6, not illustrated in the drawings, the frame 21presents at least one raised portion with a convex profile projectingoutward from the pack 1. The raised portion in question will becompletely and closely matched to the inside surface of a respectiveraised portion 22 presented by the front face 17 or flank face 19 of thepack 1.

In particular, the breast and/or side pieces of the frame 21 willpresent raised portions identical to and matching the aforementionedraised portions 22 of the blank 31. Accordingly, when the packet 2 isclosed, the breast piece of the frame 21 registers in full frontalcontact with the inside surfaces of the packet fronts 9 and 13, and/orthe side pieces of the frame 21 register in full frontal contact withthe inside surfaces of the packet flanks 11 and 15.

An alternative solution similar to that just described might naturallybe adopted for the pack 1 of FIG. 12.

1. A pack of rigid type for tobacco products, presenting lateral faces(17, 18, 19) and end faces (12, 16) and comprising a wrapper (4)composed of a container (5) with an open top end (6), and a lid (7) bywhich the open top end is closed, characterized in that at least oneface (12, 16, 17, 18, 19) of the pack (1) presents at least one raisedportion (22) with an outwardly directed convex profile, the raisedportion (22) occupying an area of the respective face (12, 16, 17, 18,19) coinciding both with the container (5) and with the lid (7).
 2. Apack as in claim 1, wherein the raised portion (22) occupies asubstantially central area of the respective face (12, 16, 17, 18, 19),excluding the parts adjacent to the edges of the selfsame face.
 3. Apack as in claim 1, wherein the raised portion (22) occupies asubstantially central area of the respective face (12, 16, 17, 18, 19)and extends at least in part to meet the edge of the selfsame face.
 4. Apack as in claim 1, wherein the raised portion (22) is presented by thelateral faces (17, 18).
 5. A pack as in claim 1, wherein the raisedportion (22) is presented by each one of the faces (12, 16, 17, 18, 19).6. A pack as in claim 1, wherein the raised portion (22) presents asubstantially flat central portion (56).
 7. A pack as in claim 1,wherein the raised portion (22) presents a surrounding fillet (57) byway of which the central portion (56) is joined to the correspondingface (12, 16, 17, 18, 19) of the pack (1).
 8. A pack as in claim 7,wherein the fillet (57) comprises rectilinear segments interconnected bycurved segments.
 9. A pack as in claim 8, wherein the fillet (57)comprises rectilinear segments connected one to the next by sharpcorners.
 10. A pack as in claim 1, wherein the wrapper (4) presentsbevelled longitudinal corner edges (26).
 11. A pack as in claim 1,wherein the wrapper (4) presents rounded longitudinal corner edges (25).12. A pack as in claim 1, wherein the wrapper (4) presents a band (27)of curved section extending along each of the longitudinal corner edgesand disposed with the concave face directed inwards, by which a relativecentral part (28) of one lateral face (17, 18, 19) is joined to anadjacent lateral face (17, 18, 19) along a sharp corner edge (29).
 13. Apack as in claim 1, presenting a substantially parallelepiped appearancewith a lid (7) hinged to the container (5) and rotatable thus betweenpositions in which the top end (6) is open and closed, wherein thewrapper (4) presents four longitudinal corner edges (58) defining fourlateral faces (17, 18, 19) disposed in mutually parallel pairs, and twoend faces (12, 16) disposed mutually parallel and perpendicular to thelateral faces (17, 18, 19).
 14. A pack as in claim 13, comprising aframe (21) fixed to the container (5), projecting in part from the opentop end (6) so as to interact with and stabilize the lid (7) whenoccupying the closed position, and presenting at least one raisedportion with a convex profile projecting outward from the pack (1). 15.A pack as in claim 14, wherein the raised portion of the frame (21) ispositioned in full frontal contact with an inside surface of a raisedportion (22) presented by a lateral face (17, 19) of the pack (1).
 16. Apack as in claim 1, wherein the tobacco products consist in a pluralityof packets of cigarettes (2), and the pack (1) is a carton (3).
 17. Apack as in claim 1, wherein the tobacco products consist in a group ofcigarettes, and the pack (1) is a cigarette packet (2).
 18. A method ofmanufacturing packs of rigid type as in claim 1 obtainable departingfrom a flat diecut blank (31) presenting a plurality of longitudinalcrease lines (35) and a plurality of transverse crease lines (36 . ..41) combining with the longitudinal crease lines (35) to define aplurality of panels (43, 44) coinciding singly or in overlappingassociation with the faces (12, 16, 17, 18, 19) of the pack (1),characterized in that it comprises the steps of advancing the blanks(31) along a predetermined conveying line (30) through a forming station(32), and deforming at least one of the panels (43, 44) plastically atthe forming station (32) in such a way as to generate a raised portion(22).
 19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the step of advancing theblanks (31) through the forming station (32) is a continuous operation.20. A method as in claim 18, wherein the step of advancing the blanks(31) through the forming station (32) includes a pause at the selfsamestation (32).
 21. A method as in claim 19, wherein the plasticdeformation step is implemented through the agency of a pair of rollers(45) operating in concert, contrarotating about axes (46) transverse tothe conveying line (30) and located on opposite sides of the selfsameline (30), including at least a first roller (45) of which thecylindrical surface (47) presents at least one projection (48)functioning as a die such as will produce the raised portion (22).
 22. Amethod as in claim 21, wherein the second roller (45) of the pair isembodied in resilient material.
 23. A method as in claim 21, wherein thesecond roller (45) of the pair presents a cylindrical surface (47)affording at least one recess (49) functioning as a bottom die matchedto the die of the first roller.
 24. A method as in claim 20, wherein theplastic deformation step is implemented through the agency of a pair oftools (50) consisting in a punch (51) and a counter (52) operating inconcert, invested with reciprocating motion relative to the conveyingline (30) and located on opposite sides of the selfsame line (30),including at least a first tool (50) furnished with a projection (54)functioning as a die such as will produce the raised portion (22).
 25. Amethod as in claim 22, wherein the second tool (52) of the pair (50) isembodied in resilient material.
 26. A method as in claim 24, wherein thesecond tool (52) of the pair (50) presents a surface offered to theopposite tool (51) furnished with at least one recess (55) functioningas a bottom die matched to the die of the first tool.
 27. A method as inclaim 19, wherein the conveying line (30) carrying the blanks (31) andthe forming station (32) are an integral part of a machine (34) by whichthe packs (1) are manufactured.